Stalk-cutter.



E. B. ELLIS & J. M. HENDERSON.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. m5.

1,162,589. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

EdisomREQi/ Jbsepia/Mfiende m'm COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH (IO-,WASHINGTDN, D.c.

UNITED IA1PE PATENT @FFIQFA.

EDISON B. ELLIS AND JOSEPH I'II. HENDERSON, 0F WAURIKA, OKLAI-IOIJEA.

STALK-CUTTER.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ifov. 36*, 1 .915.

Application filed February 10, 1915. Serial No. 7,359.

1 '0 all whom it may concern 3e it known that we, Enrson B. ELLIS and.Iossrrr M. HENDERSON, citizens of the United States, residing atVaurika, in the county of Jefferson and State of Oklahoma, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to stalk cutters, and it has for its object toproduce a simple and eliicient device of this character which may beproduced at a very moderate expense.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficientstalk cutter which may be readily attached to the beam of an ordinaryplow for the purpose of cutting stalks in advance of such plow, therebyfacilitating and improving the operation of the plow.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficientstalk cutter comprising a revoluble element carrying blades or cuttersand supporting means for the same including brackets adapted to beclamped on a plow beam or the like, hearing members for the revolubleelement, and resilient supporting devices.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of theclaims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a stalk cutterconstructed in accordance with the invention, and applied operatively toa plow beam. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top planview. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail View of one of the front bracketsdetached. Fig. 5 is a perspective detail View of one of the rearbrackets detached. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the resilientdraft elements.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

The revoluble blade carrying element of the improved stalk cuttercomprises a shaft 15 having radially extending arms 17 on which blades18 are bolted or otherwise so cured. The ends of the shaft 15 aresupported for rotation in eyes or bearings 19 formed at the lower endsof a pair of rods 20, the upper ends of which are guided throughapertures 21 in a pair of arms or brackets 22 that extend in oppositedirections from a plow beam 23 on which they are mounted, said bracketsbeing provided at their inner ends with recesses 24rin which the beam issnugly fitted, the brackets being also provided with lugs or ears 25 forthe passage of fastening members, such as bolts 26, whereby the bracketsare clamped securely on the beam. Springs S are coiled about the rods 20between the brackets 22 and the bearings 19 to resist the thrust of saidbearings in an upward direction.

The beam 23 is equipped with a second pair of brackets 27 which arelocated in advance of the first mentioned brackets 22 which theyresemble in their general construction, being provided with beamengaging recesses 28 and with lugs or ears 29 for the passage offastening bolts 30, whereby they are clamped on the beam. The outerextremities of the brackets 27 are flattened to provide seats 31 onwhich flat springs 32 are secured by fastening members, such as bolts orscrews 33. Each of the flat springs 32 is bent forwardly and downwardlywith respect to the brackets with which it is connected and thendownwardly and rear wardly so as to form a loop 34 lying in advance ofthe bracket with which it is connected. The lower rearward extremity ofeach spring 32 terminates in an eye 35 re ceiving a portion of the shaft15 that lies between a bearing 19 and a hub 16. The flat springs 32constitute draft elements whereby the revoluble blade carrying elementis drawn forward when draft is applied to the beam, and said draftelements, being resilient, will be capable of yielding freely when thesprings S are compressed by the weight of the beam.

In the operation of this device draft is applied to the plow beam, andthe machine is drawn over the field with the result that the stalks willbe engaged by the blades of the revoluble element and be thereby choppedinto short pieces which may be readily plowed under. As the springs Sare compressed and expanded the resilient draft elements 32 will yieldfreely to such movement without danger of breaking, this being largelydue to the formation of said elements with the loop 34; at the forwardend of each.

The general construction is very simple and inexpensive, and theimproved device is found to be thoroughly effective for the purpose forwhich it is provided.

The invention in the foregoing has been described as being applied tothe beam of an ordinary plow in connection with which it may besuccessfully and advantageously operated. It will be understood,however,

that the use of the invention is not limited in this respect, since theimproved stalk chopping device might be attached to a tongue or draftmember enabling it to be used independently or in connection withimplements of various descriptions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a stalk cutting device, two pairs of brackets having means wherebythey may be clamped on a supporting beam to extend laterally therefromin opposite directions, spring actuated rods guided through one pair ofbrackets and having bearings at their lower ends, a revoluble bladecarrying element including a shaft supported in said bearings, andresilient draft elements connecting portions of said shaft with theother pair of brackets.

52. In a stalk cutting device, two pairs of brackets having meanswhereby they may be clamped on a supporting beam to extend lat-- erallytherefrom in opposite directions, spring actuated rods guided throughone pair of brackets and having bearings at their lower ends, arevoluble blade carrying element including a shaft supported in saidbearings, and flat springs having eyes engaging portions of the shaft,said springs .being provided at their forward ends with loops terminallysecured on the other brackets.

3. The combination with a plow beam, of a stalk cutting device includingtwo pairs of brackets provided at their inner ends with recessesengaging said beams and with means whereby said brackets are clampedupon the plow beam, rods guided through one pair of brackets'and havingbearings at their lower ends, springs coiled on the rods between thebearings and the brackets, a revoluble blade carrying element includinga shaft supported in the bearings, and resilient draft elementsconnecting the shaft with the other 7 pair of brackets, said lastmentioned brackets being located in advance of the brackets throughwhich the shaft carrying rods are guided.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

EDISON B. ELLIS. JOSEPH M. HENDERSON.

IVitnesses:

H. H. Cowman, J. D. Parsons.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 1). 0.

